Conveying device, rolling body and conveying body

ABSTRACT

A conveying device ( 100 ) according to the invention includes several conveying bodies ( 102 ), which roll on a guidance ( 101 ) via several rolls ( 3 ), wherein the rolls ( 3 ) are connected and mutually distanced by means of a flexible connecting body ( 9 ) The conveying bodies ( 102 ) include means ( 103; 104, 105 ) for mutual support, which prevent a movement of the conveying bodies ( 102 ) out of the guidance ( 101 ). A connecting body ( 9 ) and allocated rolls ( 3 ) form a roll body ( 2 ), wherein the roll body ( 2 ), on average, includes two or less than two rolls ( 3 ) per conveying body ( 102 ). A roll body ( 2 ) for a conveying device ( 100 ) includes a plurality of rolls ( 3 ) mutually connected in a linear manner, wherein the rolls ( 3 ) are mutually connected and distanced by means of a flexible and in particular also elastic connecting body ( 9 ). In a preferred embodiment, the connecting body ( 9 ) may be bent in at least two directions.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/908,193 filed on Nov. 7, 2007 and which is currently pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is in the field of conveying technology and concerns aconveying device and a rolling body as well as a conveying bodyaccording to the generic terms of the corresponding independent claims.

In particular the invention concerns conveying devices for transport ofindividual objects or bulk goods in a flowing conveying movement. Amongothers, the object set hereby is to create conveying devices usingsimple and cost-efficient means.

This object is solved by a conveying device and a roll body as well as aconveying body according to the generic term of the independent claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A conveying device according to the invention comprises severalconveying bodies which roll on a guidance via several rolls, wherein therolls are mutually connected and distances by means of a flexibleconnecting body.

The conveying bodies advantageously include means for mutual support,which prevent a movement of the conveying bodies out of the guidance.Thus it is possible, that less rolls per conveying body are necessarybecause each conveying body need not be supported by multiple rolls allthe time. Conversely at a given distance between rolls shorter conveyingbodies may be used, which again allows smaller curve radii of theguidance or the conveying device respectively. Thus especially aconnecting body and allocated rolls form a roll body, wherein the rollbody on average comprises two or less rolls per conveying body in aconveying direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two roll bodies are arrangedon the left and the right respectively of a sequence of conveying bodiesin the guidance, and support and guide the conveying bodies.Additionally, a third roll body may run beneath the conveying bodies andabsorb a larger load in vertical direction. A drive of the conveyingdevice preferably engages on the conveying bodies, which thus move eachother by pushing. Different means for transport of goods to be conveyedmay be attached to the conveying bodies.

The means for mutual supporting are preferably flexible connectionsbetween the conveying bodies, in particular a core leading through aplurality of conveying bodies, i.e. a continuous flexible element.Alternatively, the means for mutual support may be mutually engagingshapings on the conveying bodies. Advantageously, these shapings allowthe conveying bodies to be drawn apart to any distance in a conveyingdirection. This means that the conveying bodies are only looselyconnected in a separable manner, that they may only push, but not draweach other respectively.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, mutually fitting shapings ofthe conveying bodies form a cylindrical joint or a ball-joint.

Between the different elements of the conveying device, i.e. guidingrail, conveying body and roll body, as well as inside the roll body,play or the possibility of movement outside the main direction ofmovement respectively is admissible. The play in connection allows acomparably loose connection of the elements moving against one anotherand all the same, a clean rolling of loaded rolls. Due to the play ofthe rolling body the rolls are loosely drawn and guided, such that a lowfriction and neither a mutual abrasion nor a canting or jamming due tolow tolerances occurs.

In a different embodiment of the invention, the connecting bodycomprises: supporting regions in which the rolls are fitted and jointregions, which flexibly connect the supporting regions to each other.

The conveying bodies may comprise means for the intermittent support ofobjects to be conveyed, e.g. clamps or grippers. In a differentembodiment of the invention the conveying bodies run around a centralbody, such that the central body may roll on a counter body. Hereby, therolls and the conveying body replace a wheel for the central body. Thecentral body may comprise means for the intermittent support of objectsto be conveyed.

A roll body for a conveying device comprises a plurality of rollsmutually connected and distanced in linear manner, wherein the rolls areconnected through a flexible and in particular also elastic connectingbody. The connecting body, thus, forms a movable bearing cage, alsocalled cage band (cage web). In a preferred embodiment of the invention,the cage band is bendable in at least two directions. For this purpose,the connecting body preferably comprises holding regions, into which therolls are fitted and joint regions, which flexibly connect the holdingregions to each other. The roll body may, thus, not only move on a flatorbit but also along an orbit which is set on a curved area. In otherwords: the roll body is reversibly bendable in two directions, whereinboth these directions and one movement direction of the roll bodyrespectively are perpendicular to one another.

A roll body with this kind of cage band or connecting body may beproduced as a standardized mass product of any length and be diverselyapplied in different conveying devices, roll elements and bearings ofmanifold kind. By means of the use of one-piece, simply shaped, easilyproduced components and the allowance of play in the movements, smoothlyrunning roll bodies may be manufactured in a very cost-effective manner.

The roll bodies according to the invention are particularly applicablein conveying devices as described in Swiss patent application CH 456/04dated Mar. 18, 2004 and international application PCT/CH 2005/000144dated Mar. 11, 2005 and basing on the priority of the first mentioned,as well as in roll elements as described in Swiss patent application CH884/04 dated May 21, 2004 and international application PCT/CH2005/000288 dated May 20, 2005 and relying on the priority of theformer.

A drive of the conveying device may be implemented by a web, which ispressed against the conveying bodies and/or encloses a sequence ofconveying bodies along a curve in the conveying line. A drive may alsobe implemented with e.g. drive cams, which are guided along theconveying bodies over a certain distance and engage on several conveyingbodies. This kind of drive may be implemented by a driven roll elementas described in Swiss patent application CH 885/04 dated May 21, 2004and international application PCT/CH 2005/000289 dated May 20, 2005 andrelying on the priority of the former. Hereby the rolls or protrudingcams of a revolving roll body of the driven roll element engage in theconveying device and in particular in its conveying bodies.

The contents of the three cited Swiss and international applications is,thus, incorporated into the present application by reference.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting body is aone-piece body, e.g. made of plastic and the rolls are fitted directlyinto the connecting body or via a bearing body or a roll ring.

In a different preferred embodiment of the invention, the rolls areone-piece (integrally formed) and have a barrel shape and bearinglocations facing each other are provided on the respective insides ofthe supporting areas. On the rolls protruding axis elements, which inparticular correspond with the form of the bearing locations, areprovided. The rolls are fitted into the bearing locations by means ofthe axis elements. The term roller shape in particular comprises theform of a circular cylinder with circular cross-section or of abarrel-shaped, embossed cylinder or a cylinder with a slightly concavebarrel. The rolls are advantageously made in one piece and made of metalor plastic.

On the other hand the insides of the supporting areas may compriseprojecting bearing protrusions respectively facing each other andrecesses preferably corresponding with the shape of the bearinglocations are provided in the rolls. Thus, the rolls may be fitted intothe bearing protrusions by means of the recesses.

In order to facilitate the fitting of the protruding axis elements orthe bearing protrusions, respectively these preferably have a taperedshape, and in particular end in a point.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the rolls areball-shaped and snapped in place in the respective bearing bodies, whichare fitted into the connecting body. The bearing bodies are inparticular roll rings which enclose the rolls, such that the rolls mayroll on two opposing sides on a different body. The bearing bodies may,however, also only enclose the rolls partially from one side, such thatthe rolls may roll on other bodies on three sides.

The rolls advantageously form a single linear succession or a line ofrolls inside the roll body. It is also possible to arrange two or morelines of rolls next to each other inside the same roll body.

Further preferred embodiments emanate from the dependant claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the subject of the invention is explained in moredetail by means of exemplified embodiments which are shown in theenclosed drawings. In diagrammatic manner

FIG. 1 shows a conveying device according to the invention in a topview;

FIG. 2 shows the same conveying device in a sectional view;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a further conveying device in a top view and in asectional view;

FIG. 5 shows a movement of conveying bodies in a curved embodiment ofthe further conveying device;

FIG. 6 shows corresponding conveying bodies;

FIG. 7 shows a conveying device with circulating conveying bodies;

FIGS. 8 and 9 show roll bodies with ball-shaped rolls;

FIGS. 10 to 18 show roll bodies with barrel-shaped rolls; and

FIGS. 19 to 20 show further embodiments of roll bodies

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The reference numbers used in the drawings and their references arelisted in the reference list. In the figures similar parts are inprinciple designated with identical reference numbers.

FIG. 1 shows a conveying device 100 according to the invention in a topview and FIG. 2 in a sectional view. In a guiding rail 101 severalconveying bodies 102 succeeding in a longitudinal direction are guidedand supported through roll bodies 2 running on both sides. The conveyingbodies 102 comprise a guiding groove 108 on each side, which correspondswith the shape of rolls 3. The rolling bodies 2 comprise connectingbodies 9 and rolls 3 embedded therein. The conveying bodies 102 areindividual blocks or lamellae, wherein in a longitudinal directionseveral lamellae are provided per roll 3. The blocks or lamellae areconnected by means of a core 103, i.e. a flexible cord, cable ormonofilament running through the conveying bodies 102. Hereby the core103 is loosely guided through the conveying bodies 102 or is connectedto the conveying bodies, which restricts a torsion of the conveyingbodies 102 around core 103. In both cases, the core 103 supportsconveying bodies 102 in the regions in which they are not supported bythe roll body 2 itself.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a further conveying device 100 in a top view and insection. Here the conveying bodies 102 have the shape of blocks. In alongitudinal direction, approximately one conveying body 102 is providedper roll 3. In order for the conveying bodies 102 not to fall out of theguiding rail 101 they are provided with connecting elements 104, 105 formutual support. Here these are correspondingly shaped joint convexities104 and joint concavities 105, as described in detail in the followingfigures.

FIG. 5 shows a movement of conveying bodies 102 in a curved embodimentof the further conveying device 100. FIG. 6 shows correspondingdiffering variants of individual conveying bodies 102 in a mutual sideview 6 a and in differing top views 6 b, 6 c. The joint convexities 104and the joint concavities 105 are ball-shaped (FIG. 6 b) or cylindrical(FIG. 6 c), whereas one respective joint convexity 104 of a conveyingbody 102 fits into one joint concavity 105 of a subsequent conveyingbody 102. The conveying bodies 102 are provided with one guiding groove108 on each respective side, which groove corresponds with the shape ofrolls 3.

The two roll bodies 2 of conveying device 100 or their direction ofmovement, respectively, thus run in a plane substantially parallel toboth sides of conveying bodies 102 and their direction of movement,wherein the means 104, 105 for mutual support prevent a relativemovement of conveying bodies 102 perpendicular to this plane. With acurved guiding rail 101, the direction of movement is to be understoodas being tangential.

In order to, as in FIG. 5, enable a movement of the conveying bodies 102out of this plane they comprise first bevelings 106 between the facesand an inner side 22. These bevelings begin, as can be seen in a lateralprojection as in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 a, in the location of the cylinderaxis or the ball center respectively. The first bevelings 106 lead fromhere to the inner sides 22 of conveying body 102, such that a successionof conveying bodies 102 may curve in a direction of its inner sides 22,wherein two respective conveying bodies 102 rotate around theintermediate joint 104, 105. If the conveying bodies 102 are pressedagainst one another, the upper parts of their faces come to lie againsteach other in a close fitting manner and prevent a downward buckling ofthe conveying bodies 102.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention second bevelings 107are provided on the face, which allows a curving of a succession ofconveying bodies 102 in the same plane, along which plane the conveyingbodies 102 and the roll bodies 2 running laterally along the conveyingbodies 2 move. For this purpose the second bevelings 107, in aprojection from above, i.e. in a view as in FIG. 3, 6 b or 6 c, leadfrom a line through the ball center to the sides left and right of theconveying body 102. By means of contact along this line the mutualsupport of the conveying bodies towards the bottom is ensured. Secondbevelings 107 are drawn in exemplary manner in FIG. 3 in broken lines.

FIG. 7 shows a conveying device 100 with circulating conveying bodies102 in a lateral view 7 a and in a cross-sectional view 7 b. Theconveying bodies 102 run in a conveying course 17 and are laterallysupported by a roll body 2 with ball-shaped rolls 3 in bearing grooves14 of the conveying course 17. Alternatively to the roll body 2 withballs one of the roll bodies 2 with barrels presented further below maybe used. In a fixedly installed conveying course 17 or guiding rail thequantity of conveying bodies 102 is usually larger than shown in thedrawing and thus forms a conveying band or conveying chain. For thispurpose the conveying bodies 102 may e.g. be equipped with grippers. Theconveying bodies 102 may transport individual or bulk goods by means oftheir movement.

In a different manner of application, the arrangement according to FIG.7 may be designed as a roll element 10, which can roll on a counter body5 shown in broken lines, via the conveying bodies 102, which hereby actas support bodies 82. A central body 1 of the roll element 10 as well asan object connected to it may thus be conveyed in relation to thecounter body 5 as a whole. The support bodies 82 and the roll bodies 2thus replace a bearing of the central body 1 by means of wheels.

In the transition between the straight section and the curved section s2with a determined curve radius the guiding rail 101, preferably,comprises an intermediate section s1 with a larger curve radius than thefirst curve radius. Thus it is prevented that a conveying body 102 tiltsinto the curved region when it is moved into this region and that thesucceeding conveying body 102 is lifted away from the central body 1.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention a guiding protrusion109, which limits the guiding groove 108 towards the inside, is curved.Thus the abutting guiding protrusions 109 at least approximately form asegment of circle in the curved region of the orbit 17, along whichsegment the rolls 3 may roll in an even movement.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show rolling bodies 2 with ball-shaped rolls. FIGS. 8 aand 8 b show the complete roll bodies 2 in a top view 8 a and across-sectional view 8 b. FIGS. 9 a, 9 b and 9 c show a connecting body9 or cage band, a roll ring 83 in cross-section and a ball-shaped roll3. The connecting body 9 on the one hand comprises ring-like supportingregions 91, into which the rolls are fitted by means of the roll rings83 and on the other hand joint regions 92, which flexibly connect thesupporting regions 91 to each other. The roll rings 83 are e.g. made ofplastic and in one piece and comprise an inner area corresponding to aspherical area, such that the balls may be snapped into the rings 83.The roll rings 83 comprise a circumferential groove on their outer edgesby means of which they are fitted into circular openings of supportingregions 91 of the connecting bodies 9. The connecting body 9 ispreferably made of elastic flat material made of plastic or rubber or ablended fabric, e.g. by means of punching or water jet cutting.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting body 9comprises no narrow joint regions 92 but is a band of constant width,into which the rolls 3 are fitted.

FIGS. 10 to 18 show roll bodies with barrel-shaped rolls. FIGS. 10 a and10 b show a roll body 2 in a top view 10 a and a cross-sectional view 10b. FIGS. 11 a and 11 b show a connecting body 9 or cage band and abarrel-shaped roll 3. The connecting body 9 on the one hand comprisesring-like supporting regions 91, into which the rolls are fitted, and onthe other hand joint regions 92, which flexibly connect the supportingregions 91 to one another. The connecting body 9 is preferably made ofone piece and consists of a flexible or elastic, but not soft elasticmaterial e.g. a plastic such as nylon. It is manufactured by means ofinjection molding or made of a flat material, e.g. by means of punchingor jet cutting. The rolls 3 are also made of plastic or of metal, inparticular of steel. In this embodiment of the invention the rolls 3 areconical and tapered in an axial direction, by which conical axiselements 95 are created, as may be seen in the detailed view accordingto FIG. 12. On the insides of the supporting regions 91 correspondingrespective opposing cavities such as e.g. internal tapers are shaped toform bearings 94. These inner tapers effect the bearing of rolls 3.Instead of conical elements naturally a different form may be used forthe bearing, e.g. a cylindrical form. The connection through the jointregions 92 is, viewed in the running direction of rolls 3, at leastapproximately arranged at the middle of rolls 3. This kind of cage band9 may be bent within a plane transverse to the roll axes and in thismanner may be used together with a central body 1 e.g. according to FIG.7.

Due to the flexible and single connection by means of the joint regions92 the connecting body 9 may, however, also be bent out of this plane,such that the central body 1 need not have a planar orbit. Furthermorethe cage band 9 may be twisted through the joint regions 92 and, thus,the roll body 2 may follow a course, which requires a torsion of theroll body 2. This kind of roll body, thus, allows a multitude ofapplications and can additionally be produced in a simple manner inlarge quantities.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a further roll body 1 in a top view 13 a and across-sectional view 13 b. FIGS. 14 a and 14 b show a correspondingconnecting body 9 or cage web and a barrel-shaped roll 3. These areproducible in a similar manner to those in FIGS. 10 and 11. For themanufacture of the roll 3 a further simplification is possible, as dueto its simple form it may either be manufactured as an individualinjection molded part or by cutting it off from a thick-walled tube. Inthis embodiment of the invention the rolls 3 accordingly comprise tworecesses 97 for bearings, wherein these recesses 97 may also be formedby means of a continuous hole along the roll axis. The supporting region91 of the connecting body 9 comprises opposing bearing protrusions 96,which snap into the recesses 97 when fitting the rolls. In order tosimplify this, the bearing protrusions 96 as well as the axis elements95 of the previous embodiment are preferably designed to be tapered andin particular acute.

FIG. 15 shows a further variant with a bearing protrusion on the supportregion 91 in a detailed view. FIG. 16 shows a variant of a roll body 2of different proportions. FIG. 17 shows a variant of a roll body 2, inwhich the rolls 3 comprise protruding bearing axes 31, which are beddedin bearing openings of connecting body 9. In a variant with a top viewaccording to FIG. 18 a, the connecting body 9 comprises two separatehalves or bearing bands, which respectively connect the bearing axes 31on both sides of the roll body 2. Accordingly, the roll body 2 as awhole is only bendable in one direction. In order for the roll body 2not to fall apart and all the same may be assembled, the bearing axes 31e.g. lie in the bearing bands by means of a press fit and the rolls 3are loosely rotatable around the bearing axis 31. In the variantaccording to FIG. 18 b, as in the embodiments hitherto, a curve in twodirections as well as a torsion or a contortion respectively ispossible. Here again the bearing axes 31 may be fitted to the connectingbody 9 by means of a press fit. The bearing axes may, however, also beshaped to fit the rolls 3 and lie loosely in the supporting regions 91of the connecting bodies 9.

FIG. 19 shows a roll element 10 with a roll body 2 similar to the one ofFIGS. 10 and 11. The roll body 2 circulates in an orbit 17 around acentral body 1 and accordingly allows rolling and thus a bearing of rollelement 10 with respect to connecting body 9.

FIG. 20 shows a movement of a roll body 2 in a curved guiding rail 101,e.g. in a curved roll element 10 seen from the movement direction of theroll body 2, here accordingly the movement of the rolls 3 is curved intwo directions perpendicular each other and to the direction ofmovement.

Basically the different shown variants of cage bands 9, roll shapes,roll bearings, roll elements etc. may be combined and modified in amultiplicity of manners.

REFERENCE LIST

-   1 central body-   10 roll element-   12 straight section-   14 bearing groove-   16 inner edge of bearing groove-   17 conveying course-   2 roll body-   22 inner side roll-   3 roll-   31 bearing axis-   5 counter body-   82 support body-   83 roll ring-   9 cage band-   91 support region-   92 joint region-   94 bearing-   95 axis element-   96 bearing protrusion-   97 recess, bore-   100 conveying device-   101 guiding rail-   102 conveying body-   103 core-   104 joint convexity-   105 joint concavity-   106 first beveling-   107 second beveling-   108 guiding groove-   109 guiding protrusion

1. In a conveying device, between a guide and a conveying body, saidconveying body received in the guide, the conveying body having asurface for conveying objects or bulk goods, a roll body comprising: aplurality of rolls connected in linear manner, wherein the rolls areconnected to and distanced from each other along a conveying directionby means of a flexible connecting body, wherein the connecting body ismade in one piece, and wherein the rolls are ball-shaped andindividually snapped into a plurality of roll rings, which areindividually fitted into a plurality of support regions of theconnecting body the roll body configured and operable to enable theconveying body to advance along the guide.
 2. The roll body according toclaim 1, wherein the roll rings comprise a circumferential groove ontheir outer edges by means of which they are fitted into circularopenings of supporting regions of the connecting bodies.
 3. The rollbody according to claim 1, wherein the roll rings are shaped in onepiece of plastic and comprise an inner spherical surface, such that theball-shaped rolls may be snapped into the rings.
 4. The roll bodyaccording to claim 1, wherein the connecting body is made of elasticflat material.
 5. The roll body according to claim 4, wherein theconnecting body is made of plastic or rubber or a blended fabric.
 6. Theroll body according to claim 1, wherein the connecting body comprisessupporting regions, into which the ball-shaped rolls are fitted andjoint regions, which flexibly connect the supporting regions to eachother.
 7. The roll body according to claim 6, wherein the joint regionsare narrower than the supporting regions.
 8. The roll body according toclaim 7, wherein the roll body is bendable in at least two directions,wherein these two directions and a movement direction of the roll bodyare perpendicular to one another.
 9. The roll body according to claim 2,wherein the roll rings are shaped in one piece of plastic and comprisean inner spherical surface, such that the ball-shaped rolls may besnapped into the rings.
 10. The roll body according to claim 2, whereinthe connecting body is made of elastic flat material.